Council Backs Bonds for Library, Zoo, Sidewalks

Over the objections of Mayor Richard Riordan to two of four bond measures, the Los Angeles City Council formally agreed Wednesday to seek voter approval for more than $1 billion in improvements to the city’s library, zoo, Exposition Park area and sidewalks.

Riordan, whose support for the measures is considered crucial to their passage, endorses the $178.3-million library bond and $47.6-million zoo bond but he will not support the $769.4-million sidewalk tax or the $46.5-million Exposition Park proposal, his aides said.

Still, a majority of the council swiftly endorsed the package. Some say they wanted the opportunity to put the measures to voters to see if two-thirds will approve them.

The bonds will appear separately on the November ballot.

The sidewalk proposal calls for repairing 4,620 miles of pavement and upgrading all sidewalks to meet federal law. The library bond includes four new branches, and remodeling and improvements for most others; the zoo bond calls for new exhibits and improvements.

The Exposition Park proposal calls for $30 million for an environmental science learning center--a glorified aquarium--at the park’s new science museum; $2.5 million to upgrade the rose garden and $12 million for the regional recreation center--including the Olympic Swim Stadium.